1. Ethics Committee Guidelines
Presented by GNYHCFA

2. The Facility Ethics Committee established under the Family Health Care Decision Act (FHCDA) of 2010 will be convened to discuss ethical issues in accordance person- centered care and resident needs. The Ethics Committee will integrate shared decision making on the behalf of residents as needed. The facility Ethics Committee will guide the interdisciplinary team in the provision of appropriate care to specific residents, when concerns, conflicts or misunderstanding arise.

3. *The FHCDA grants substantial authority to Ethics Committees as a way to avoid costly litigation and establish a decision-making process within facilities, including for sensitive decisions to forgo life-sustaining treatment. Along with this responsibility, the Act provides protection from liability and from charges of professional misconduct for health care facilities and for Ethics Committee members, participants, and consultants for actions taken reasonably and in good faith pursuant to the Act.

4. Ethics Committee Membership
In accordance with the FHCDA the facility Ethics Committee membership will be interdisciplinary, including at least five members. These members will be:
Medical Director
Director of Nursing
Administrator
Director of Social Services
A Direct Care staff member familiar with the resident’s care as needed.
At least 1 person without any governance, contractual, or employment relationship with nursing home ( Can be an advocate such as Ombudsman or , Clergy member
A Person Connected with the Case may not participate as an Ethics Committee member in considering that case.

5. Ethics Committee Procedures
Ethics Committees will respond promptly, as required by the circumstances, to:
Any request for assistance in resolving a dispute by a Person Connected with the Case
A request for consideration of a surrogate decision to withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatment
The Ethics Committee will promptly give notice to the resident (if there is any indication of the residents ability to comprehend the information), the surrogate, other persons on the surrogate list directly involved in the decision or dispute regarding the patient’s care, the attending physician, a designated representative of the facility’s administration, and any other person the Ethics Committee deems appropriate.

6. Ethics Committee Procedures
The Ethics Committee will set up meeting date /time/location within 5 days of request and provide a notice of meetings, any pending consideration of a case concerning the resident.
The Ethics Committee will discuss all views regarding proposed resident care; this includes care options and alternatives. The committee will review the resident’s medical record, the appropriate course for the resident's care, and shall consider appropriate state and federal laws, rules and regulations as reflected in facility policies, including policies regarding advance directives, health care proxy, DNR, informed consent, refusal of treatment, and refusal of nutrition and hydration.
The Ethics Committee will give Persons Connected with the case an opportunity to present their views to the Ethics Committee, and the option of being accompanied by an advisor when participating in an Ethics Committee meeting.
The Ethics Committee will document in writing the review and response to the case, including a written statement of the reasons for decisions including to withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatment for a resident. This will be part of resident’s medical record and any meeting minutes will be provided to the QA Committee as indicated.
The Ethics committee will communicate decisions to surrogate and/other Person Connected with the case as indicated.

7. Resources